Anquan Boldin adds toughness to exciting Bills offense
The Buffalo Bills added another very interesting piece to their unique offensive arsenal in Anquan Boldin. What does this signing do for their 2017 hopes?
Anquan Boldin is not done playing football.
The former Florida State, Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers, and Detroit Lions star has decided to play one more NFL season, perhaps his final season, with the Buffalo Bills.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the decision to sign with Buffalo was not an easy one for Boldin…
Bills are giving WR Anquan Boldin a one-year, $2.75 million deal, that includes $1.25 million in incentives, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 7, 2017
WR Anquan Boldin agreed to deal with Bills last week, backed out, and then decided today to take the one-year deal worth up to $4 million.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 7, 2017
Boldin, however, seems excited about this new chapter in his fantastic football career:
Season 15. pic.twitter.com/4DKyxQTeZM
— Anquan Boldin (@AnquanBoldin) August 7, 2017
After a stellar job done with the Arizona Cardinals, Boldin went to the Baltimore Ravens where he was part of a championship team in 2012 before being dealt to the San Francisco 49ers. With the Niners, Boldin found the fountain of youth in his early 30s, posting two seasons with over 1,000 yards.
At the age of 36, Boldin came to Detroit last season to play for the Lions in their first season without Calvin Johnson, and while he didn’t eclipse 1,000 yards receiving, he racked up eight touchdown catches on a very prolific passing team and proved he could still be a very reliable target, catching over 70 percent of his passes.
His 70.5. catch percent is the highest number he’s posted since 2008 with the Cardinals, when he caught 70.1 percent of his targets.
What Boldin is known for in this league is toughness. He’s never been the fastest or the quickest, but he knows how to get open and make tough catches. Even at the age of 36, he’s still catching touchdown passes, too.
With the Bills’ top offensive skill positions looking something like this, it’s hard not to be excited about their prospects for 2017:
QB: Tyrod Taylor
RB: LeSean McCoy
WR1: Sammy Watkins
WR2: Anquan Boldin
WR3: Zay Jones
TE: Charles Clay
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That’s a unit that has both speed and toughness, Boldin bringing the latter.
It’s also a unit that was in need of really one final piece to put it all together. I think even on a one-year contract, Boldin is the type of veteran who could really do a great job with this Buffalo team and Rick Dennison’s offense.
Buffalo has their work cut out for them to compete with the Patriots in the East, and even the Dolphins now with Ryan Tannehill injured and Jay Cutler coming in, but this is another step in the right direction for them.
Boldin is battle-tested in the playoffs, and has seen everything there is to see in this league. He could be a critical piece for them moving forward.